The Long Island Nets returned to the court on Sunday, March 15th, for a showdown with the Osceola Magic. This was Long Island’s first game back in nine days after getting a mini vacation. Things have changed.
The last time that Long Island took the court, they were led by EJ Liddell’s 36 points, Chaney Johnson’s 20 points, Tyson Etienne’s 12 points, and Malachi Smith’s 16 points. Grant Nelson was on a 10-day with the big clu and Ben Saraf had just left for Brooklyn. Fast forward nine days, and none
of the five players were with Long Island and Nelson is done for the season with patellar tendinitis. So no surprise Long Island fell to one of the NBA G League’s best teams, Osceola, 126-107.
Now though, Long Island is trying to plan for a G League playoff run. With six games left, Long Island seems secure. They’re tied for fifth seed in the East, but three games ahead of the seventh seed Capital City Go-Go. They’re only a game out of third. The regular season ends March 28 with playoffs set to begin three days later. Will the two-ways and Smith be back by then?
Without Drake Powell and the three Brooklyn two-way players. Long Island sent out a brand new starting five Sunday consisting of Dre Davis, Hunter Cattoor, Alex Schumacher, Tre Scott, and David Muoka. Long Island’s head coach, Mfon Udofia, has been preaching next-man-up mentality for a good portion of the season, and this game embodied just that. Four of those five players have been coming off the bench. Speaking of the bench, the Nets had only nine healthy and available players for the game!
Dre Davis, who only had five points in Long Island’s last time on the court, finished today’s game leading the team, and tied for the game-lead, with 25 points. The 6’6” Seton Hall product finished with 25 points, a career-high. He shot the ball very well, 50% to be exact, connecting on three of his eight tries from deep. as well. He also went 80% from the foul stripe in his five tries. Davis also hauled in five rebounds, and tallied one assist, one steal, and one block.
Cattoor also had a memorable game as well. After just playing a small part in Long Island’s win over the Greensboro Swarm, scoring six points, Cattoor was tied for second on the team with 20 points. He connected on six of his 11 tries, including going four-for-eight from deep. He also had two rebounds, one assist, and one steal. He played more than double the minutes he had the last time out, tallying 41 minutes in this one, his most since joining Long Island.
Muoka got the start at the center position for Long Island, and he had a tall task in front of him, needing to guard former Long Island Nets player, and one of the G League’s top big men, Colin Castleton. Muoka had a respectable game going up against Castleton, tallying 14 points and bringing in six rebounds, one assist, and an impressive three blocks.
Scott also got the start in one of the forward spots. Scott was also the only player in this game to have started the last time on the court nine days ago. He picked up 13 points and flirted with a double-doubling, hauling in eight rebounds. He also proved to be a great ball hawk, picking up a game-leading four steals.
Schumacher was the fifth and final starter against Osceola. This marked Schumacher’s first game back with Long Island since leaving the team to play for the Swiss National Team at FIBA Europe ] last month. He had a very quiet game by his standards as he gets re-adjusted to the Long Island style of play. Schumacher picked up four points and brought in four rebounds while tallying five assists.
Perhaps the biggest welcomed surprises for Long Island against Osceola was the play of Terry Roberts, the veteran point guard and North Amityville native. Roberts came in from the bench and was tied for second on the team in scoring with 20 points. He connected on seven of his 19 shots, including going two-for-six from deep. He also had three rebounds, six assists, and a steal. However, he turned the ball over five times, the most on the team.
Long Island matched up with a couple of their old friends in this one, Castleton and former Brooklyn two-way player Reece Beekman. Castleton continued to show why he’s one of the best big men in the G League, tallying 21 points, while bringing in 10 rebounds for a double-double, and finishing with two assists. As for Beekman, he had a triple-double, finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. He even had three steals to his credit.
Next Up
The Long Island Nets (18-12) remain in the sixth seed as the playoff push is upon us. As the end of the G League season draws near, these games are beginning to become must-win. They return to the court on Tuesday, March 17th, as they once again match up with Castleton, Beekman, and the Osceola Magic. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and can be watched on ESPN+.
